Will Smith, 53, shares his epic fitness transformation after 'pandemic body' snap

Will Smith is always playing the muscular fit guy in films - you only have to watch the 2016 movie Suicide Squad to see him sporting an eight-pack. However, Smith posted a starkly different image of his belly earlier this year with the caption, “I’m in the worst shape of my life”.

Despite sharing this very raw photo of his post pandemic body to his Instagram audience, he wasn’t shunning his weight gain: rather, he was sharing his plan to get into the best shape of his life. If you've set yourself a similar goal, take a read of our guide on the best exercises for weight loss to get your journey started.

The original Instagram posted by Smith can be viewed below:

Five months on and it's safe to say that the Men in Black star stuck to his word. In a recent reel posted by the actor, Smith can be seen engaging in some serious looking resistance training. 

If you thought lifting weights isn’t for over fifties, 53 year old Smith will prove you wrong in the video below:

Resistance training isn’t just for building muscle and bulking up. In fact, it's a really effective way to lose weight. This recent study found that you can lose up to 1.4 percent of body fat through resistance training, which is just as much as you would lose through cardio or aerobics. It is no wonder Smith is looking trimmer and more muscular from all the different weight training.

The video shows him using a variety of weight based exercise machines, barbells and dumbbells as he powers through various workouts. Smith is clearly in a comprehensive gym setup, but if you enjoyed the solitude of working out at home this past year, a set of best adjustable dumbbells are the perfect addition to any home gym.

Smith’s determination in the clips is inspiring, but if you are a complete beginner you might feel a bit lost the first time you go train with different weights. This is why we have essential information on how to lift weights that will prepare you to resistance train safely and effectively. It's important to note that it isn’t strictly weight training that Smith has shared online. The final clip shows him taking a light jog around a track, showing that he doesn’t rule out cardio from his training. 

In another fitness-related post, he shows himself trying to get his daily 10,000 steps in. It just goes to show even for very fit Hollywood superstars, a simple walk is still a viable, low-intensity weight loss workout that's easy to fit into your day. This 2014 study found that women who walked 50-70 minutes just three days a week lost around 1.5% of body fat after 12 weeks.